Page:Lady Anne Granard 1.pdf/157

152 She had no idea that he was so rich, still less that he would be so generous. "The girl has fetched a good price," said Lady Penrhyn, with a bitter sneer, in answer to Lady Anne's triumphant details of rent-rolls and settlements; "those old men always do choose such young girls." "Old!" cried Lady Anne; "why, it was but the other day that you said he was too young to be the friend of my daughters!" "A man is always too young for such sentimental friendships," replied the other. "Isabella is not yet seventeen. I will give her three years before she runs away!" All was now gaiety and bustle in Welbeck Street. Mr. Glentworth was anxious to gratify even every caprice of his betrothed; and, if she had them not, he invented them for her. For the first time, Lady Anne felt almost fond of her daughter when she saw her jewel-box. There is certainly a great deal of delusion in marriage, as far as the lady is concerned: it is not only the lover of which she suddenly becomes possessed, but of white satin, white silk, white lace, "rings, bracelets, and carkanets," such as never crossed even the visions of her girlhood. One would think that her marriage was an individual advantage to all her friends, so much interest do they appear to take in the matter. It might seem that love and marriage were more especially confined in their interest to the happy two, and "two only;" no such thing, it is